Born in Toluca, State of México, on 26 January 1933, Lozano Barragán trained at the seminary in Zamora, Michoacán, and was ordained a priest on 30 October 1955 while studying in Rome, where he earned a doctorate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1958.

[citation needed] While in that position, he helped to found the Pontifical University of Mexico and served on its leadership council from 1982-1985.

While in that post he was made a member of two Curial bodies, the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

[3] Lozano Barragán was made Cardinal-Deacon of San Michele Arcangelo a Pietralata by Pope John Paul II on 21 October 2003.

[7] On two occasions he opposed the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, including artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH), from patients had spent years in a vegetative state.

[8] On 18 April 2009, Pope Benedict accepted Lozano Barragán's resignation for reasons of age and appointed Zygmunt Zimowski to the post.